Breech-loading ordnance



(No Model.)

H. P. BURST. BRBEGH LOADING ORDNANGE.

N0. 585,95? Patented July 6, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT VQFFICE'.

IIARRISP. I'IURST, OF SUMMIT, MISSISSIPPI.

BREECl-l-LOADING ORDNANCE."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,957, dated July 6,1 897.

, Application filed July 28, 1892.

1 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clean-and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to breech-loading ordnance, particularlylarge-caliber guns.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fifty-caliber eight-inchrifle embracing the main features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a similarView. Fig. 3 is an endview of the breech of the gun. Fig. 4 is amodification of the primary-charge tube and breech-block. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal sectional view of one form of sabot with the rear extensionor telescopic primary-eharge tube. Fig. 6 is a modification of Figs. 4and 5 in which the breechblock carries the smaller of the two tubes.Fig. 7 is a cross-section of breech-support on a line a; aa'of Fig.2.Fig. 8 shows one form of fastening for primary-charge tube to the breechblock. Fig. 9 is a perspective of main charge, showing canvas coveringand part of case.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the breech of the gun, andhinged thereto is thefolding support or arm B, held in place by a strongbolt D, and on the inner face of the arm a recessed rail E extends'fromend to end, and a corresponding recessed cut F is made in one'of thescrew-interrupted sides of the breech-block G, whereby the breechbloek,when it is unlocked, on being drawn rearward will slide on the railuntil stopped by the bolt (2, the rail dovetailingin the blockpreventing it from falling off, and is so arranged that the block willreadily enter the breech when .pushed forward, and a turn to the rightlocks the breech, which may be secured in any manner suitable to thestyle of the gun.

When the breech is open, the arm B is pushed back to a convenientloading position and the projectile II is placed in positionin the gun,as shown in Fig. 1, with the Serial No. 441,433. (No model.)

rotating band I) forward of the slope of the powder-chamber c.

The primary charge. I is placed, in whole or in part, in the tube J, theupper end of which is closed, and resting against or affixed thereto inany suitable manner is the sabot K, the under side of which may becupped to form a gas-check d. The tube J may rest against the projectilewithout the sabot or may be affixed to the projectile be- 'fore firingor become afiixed thereto when fired by being driven into a hole in thebore of the projectile or over a tapering tailpiece thereon, as shownin'dotted lines, Fig. l. p

The main charge L is arranged in a single package or series of packagesin the form of rings 6 e and placed upon the primary-chargereceivingtubeM, which may be placed in front of the breech-block or placed in it andextend through it, or made with it, or screwed into the head of theobturator f, or may be integral with it, or may extend through it, asshown in Fig. 4, and then it can be held in position in. various ways,as by the key g,

Fig. 8, which-is pushed into the notch h of the end of the "tube M,.asillustratedin Fig. 4, or the tube M may beeharged within and without andbe fixed complete as a doublecharged cartridge, and the lower end oftube M, when the cartridge is placed in the gun, would be seated andsupported in the rearextending primary charge tube-receiving chamber ofthe breech-block.

The lower end of tube J is cupped or reamed out until the edge is sharp,forming a gas cheek N r a notch or groove 11 may be cut on the outiideof the end of tube J and filled with a soft-metal ring or other suitablepacking as a gas-check, or a separate cup or open thimble may be drivenover a coned or beveled end of tube J to prevent the flame from theprimary charge from escaping until the gas-check N is free from theupper end of tube M.

The tube J, when it or tube M is charged,

described, the tube J, with or without the sabot K, resting against thebase of the prothis is not essential in all cases.

jectile or the interposed crushable material K, dotted lines, Figs. 5and 6. A one-sixth turn to the right secures the breech-block, and thegun is in position to fire, being'loaded with two charges of powder orother propelling material so separated as to permit the projectile toreceive its initial impulse from the primary charge,the main charge onlybeing fired while the projectile is Well under way along the bore of thegun.

When the gun is loaded, the arm E may be folded, as shown in dottedlines, Fig. 1, and full lines, Fig. 2, and secured in position by thecatch 0, and the manner of firing is as follows: By any kind of a primerfire is communicated through the breech-block by the channel, r (theinterior end extending into the primary-charge tube M any desired distance) to theprimary charge, and the gases therefrom driving out thetube J, having thereon the sabot,which may be made to act as a cushionunder the projectile by crushing up, thus reducing the chamber-pressureand increasing the velocity of the'shot. By these means, andparticularly the starting of the projectile by the primary chargewithout much shock, enables me to fire a shell of five or six or morecalibers in length filled with a large bursting'charge of gun-cotton orother high explosive and get it safely under Way, the main charge beingentirely separated from the primary or starting charge and is not fireduntil the lower end of tube J is free from the tube M. The fiame fromthe primary charge then communicates with-and fires the main charge, butthe projectile is moving rapidly, and there then being a large spacebetween it and the main charge for the gases to expand .in before theprojectile is acted upon by the main charge or second explosion theshock on the projectile is reduced to the minimum, and the chamberpressure is greatly reduced even when the weight of the main charge isgreatly in excess of and in some guns more than double the maximumcharge allowed in single-charge guns of this or any other class.

When the projectile is free of the gun, it is intended .that the tube J,with or without the sabot, separate from the projectile, though Meansmay be used to cause tube orsabot to separate or remain affixed to theprojectile, as desired.

Any suitable form of gas-cups P may be used on the breech-block, and thebreechblock may be hollowed out, (dotted lines, Fig. 6,) so as toincrease the volume of the primary charge. In heavy guns it may benecessary to band or jacket tube M to give it great stren gth.

The riding in guns firing a high-explosive projectile should begin somedistance forward of the seat for the projectile, leaving a smooth borefor a considerable space for the projectile to get under way unimpeded,and in a double-charged gun this is very important. Until acted upon bythe second explosion the thereon, as shown in Fig. 2 and described inthe specification of application filed March 28,

- 1892,Ser ial No. 426,839, would be desirableand I do not. desire tolimit myselfto rifleguns,.but claimthe construction forall classes ofguns to which it is capable of being applied.

\Vhat I claim is g 1. A'breech-block for'breech-loading guns providedwith a I separable primary-chargecarrying tube independent thereof andseated and supported, when loaded, in a front-loading rear-extendingchamber therein, substam.

tially as described.

2. A breech-block for breech-loading guns having a front-loading,cartridge-receivingand-supporting, primary or starting charge chambertherein, the face of the breech-block supporting the main chargesubstantially as described.

3. In a breech-loading gun, the breechblock for closing the same havinga rearwardly-extending chamber receiving therein the rear end or head ofa primary-charge tube separate therefrom, a gas-check surrounding saidtube forward of the face of said breechblock and a main charge forwardof said gascheck, substantially as described.

4.. In a breech-loading gun, the breechblockfor closing the same havinga primarycharge-carrying tube, a main charge without said tube and anelongated subcaliber extension-body in said tube and extending forwardand an independent, body between the base of the projectile and saidsubcaliber-body, substantially as described.

5. In a breech loading gun, the breechblock for closing the same havinga primarycharge-carrying tube, a main charge without said tube, saidmain charge consisting'of a series. of powder-sections held together bya suitable easing, substantially as described.

6. In a breech loading gun, the breechblock for closing the same havinga primary- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

- HARRIS P. IIURST.

\Vitnesscs DANIEL '1. Doxonon, R. \V. (lonNwELL.

